VOA标准英语2011--At 75, Seminal US Composer Still Inspires

At 75, Seminal US Composer Still Inspires American composer Steve Reich turned 75 this year. The so-called minimalist credits jazz, African drumming and Balinese gamelan as inspirations. His music - from experimental tape loops to the Pulitzer prize-

VOA标准英语2011--VP Biden Visits Iraq Before US Troops Withdraw

VP Biden Visits Iraq Before US Troops Withdraw U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has made Tuesday a previously unannounced visit to Iraq. The vice president has been meeting with Iraqi leaders, about a month before a deadline for U.S. forces to withdraw

VOA标准英语2011--Pythons Unlock Human Heart Health Secrets

Pythons Unlock Human Heart Health Secrets Studying snakes might seem like an unlikely way to help people with heart disease, but a pythons remarkable ability to quickly enlarge its heart during digestion has Colorado medical researchers looking towar

VOA标准英语2011--Philadelphia Cracks Down on Domestic Violence

Philadelphia Cracks Down on Domestic Violence The Women Against Abuse shelter is the only refuge in Philadelphia for women escaping abusive relationships. The buildings location is a secret - for safety reasons. Its clients, like Sheila Armstrong, ar

VOA标准英语2011--Somalia Famine Refugees Joined by Others Fleeing Insecurity

Somalia Famine Refugees Joined by Others Fleeing Insecurity Kenya's military offensive against Islamic extremists in southern Somalia is sparking concern about a fresh exodus of Somali refugees to camps in Ethiopia. The rainy season has arrived in mo

VOA标准英语2011--Pennsylvania Man Gets Into Halloween in a Big Way

Pennsylvania Man Gets Into Halloween in a Big Way Once a year, on the holiday known as Halloween, American parents tell their kids its okay to take candy from strangers; as they go from door to door in costume in the traditional practice called Trick

VOA标准英语2011--US Presses for Greater Pakistani Role in Afghan Peace Process

US Presses for Greater Pakistani Role in Afghan Peace Process Foreign ministers are meeting in Turkey this week to endorse Afghan efforts for a political solution to the decade-long conflict and to determine a plan for a sustainable Afghan economy. A

VOA标准英语2011--India’s Opposition Demands Rollback of Move to Allow Foreign Retailers

Indias Opposition Demands Rollback of Move to Allow Foreign Retailers In India, opposition parties and political allies of the government are demanding a rollback of a recent decision to further open up the country's retail business to foreign super

VOA标准英语2011--Aid Agencies Reassess Somali Operations

Aid Agencies Reassess Somali Operations Sixteen aid agencies say they face new challenges in Somalia, after the al Shabab militant group banned their activities in the southern and central parts of the country. Al Shabab accuses the agencies of bias

VOA标准英语2011--Muslim-American Children Make Mock Pilgrimage to Mecca

Muslim-American Children Make Mock Pilgrimage to Mecca More than 1.5 million Muslims from around the world have gathered in Mecca for the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage, which begins later this week. At a Washington area mosque, American Muslim children

VOA标准英语2011--New Law in Vietnam to Tackle Changing Face of Human Trafficking

New Law in Vietnam to Tackle Changing Face of Human Trafficking Vietnam's economic growth has improved mobility, giving people more opportunities to travel to find better jobs. But as industries change and cities grow, so do the dangers to the countr

VOA标准英语2011--Britain Withdraws Some Diplomats From Iran

Britain Withdraws Some Diplomats From Iran The British government is pulling some diplomatic staff out of Iran following Tuesday's attack on its embassy in Tehran by a group of protesters. On Sunday, Iranian lawmakers voted to weaken diplomatic ties

VOA标准英语2011--Exhibit Enlists Visitors in Helping Abused Women

Exhibit Enlists Visitors in Helping Abused Women There is a Chinese saying that women hold up half the sky, yet in many societies, the contributions of women are ignored and women are often the victims of sexual violence and abuse. Husband-and-wife j

VOA标准英语2011--Live Reindeer, Camels Bring Holiday Cheer

Live Reindeer, Camels Bring Holiday Cheer Holiday shopping is in full swing at Swanson's Nursery in Seattle, where you can buy a Christmas tree, pick up a festive wreath for the front door, or check out Santas sleigh. A live reindeer, sharp antlers a

VOA标准英语2011--New Farmers Confront Realities of Local Food Movement

New Farmers Confront Realities of Local Food Movement For the first time in memory, farming in America is cool. A nationwide movement, fueled by disdain for industrial-scale agriculture, is inspiring many young people with no farming experience to ge

VOA标准英语2011--Historic US Court Case Inspired Equal Rights for Both Genders

Historic US Court Case Inspired Equal Rights for Both Genders Reed v Reed is a U.S. Supreme Court case many have never heard of. Yet, it triggered the landmark 1971 decision that declared it unconstitutional to discriminate against a woman solely bec

VOA标准英语2011--Cain Reassesses US Presidential Bid, Gingrich Rises in Polls

Cain Reassesses US Presidential Bid, Gingrich Rises in Polls In U.S. presidential politics, the focus is on Republican White House contender Herman Cain. Cain says he is reassessing his campaign in the wake of allegations of an extramarital affair, w

VOA标准英语2011--Egypt's Islamists Stress Pragmatism

Egypt's Islamists Stress Pragmatism The extent of Egypt's Islamist parties' appeal will come into clearer focus in coming weeks, as results from the nation's first post-revolution elections come in. So far, expressions of support have been strong, es

VOA标准英语2011--Strategy to End AIDS Epidemic

Strategy to End AIDS Epidemic 终结艾滋病的策略 A leading AIDS advocacy group says while the end of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is within reach, success is far from assured. AVAC has released a science-based agenda to end the more than 30-year-old e